Finally, some 'straight talk' about management, marketing and profitability:

Managing any business today is tough…and getting tougher. Every industry is over-served and under-differentiated. We’re all faced with more demanding customers, more and stronger competition, disruptive innovation and shrinking margins. On top of that, great staff are hard to find and keep…and that problem won’t go away any time soon. So, mediocrity is no longer an option.

Regardless of what the latest management book tells you, as business owners, leaders or managers, our 1st job is to be clear about these 8 things:

Who our target customers are, individually and as a group, and what life is really like for them.

The compelling value and experience that we commit to deliver. Value and experiences that will ‘grab’ our target customers, clearly differentiate us from our competitors, make us ‘famous’…and grow our bottom line.

How we’ll communicate and promote that compelling value story in a crowded and cynical marketplace. There’s no point in being the best if we’re also the best kept secret.

What we commit to become. How our business must change to be a profitable and responsible market leader in 3 to 5 years (our Vision). How our business will be different from what, where and who you are today.

The extraordinary bottom line that you commit to generate. Our profit is something we plan for and commit to…not something we hope for.

The specific decisions, actions and improvements that we must take, year by year, (our annual Mission) in every part of the business to get to our 3 to 5 year Vision. This includes how parts of our business model might have to change to keep us relevant.

The talent, team, culture and organizational structure we need to create…and how we, as leaders, must grow to make this happen.

How we commit to behave along the way (our values, ethics and standards). One of our most important roles is to guard the integrity of the business.

If we as leaders are not clear about these 8 things, who else in the business can possibly be? Most businesses lack this kind of clarity …and it’s hurting them badly.

Based on his own business career as a world-class manufacturer and award-winning retailer, plus 20 years of coaching clients in over 40 industries throughout the world, Donald delivers clear bottom-line management and marketing insights that have helped 1,000s of clients create compelling customer value, clarity of purpose and long-term profitability.

These insights are supported by Donald’s complete set of ‘Business Assessment and Management Implementation Tools’. For info on these Tools and Templates, CLICK HERE

To quote one American client,“Every business person should spend a few hours with Donald Cooper…it changes everything!”

Donald’s experience and credibility:

Donald Cooper, MBA, has been both a world-class manufacturer and an award-winning fashion retailer. From humble beginnings, Cooper Canada became a world-leading maker of sports equipment and a Canadian brand icon.

For more info about Donald’s business life ‘in the trenches’, CLICK HERE

Every once in a while someone comes along who really touches a nerve – someone who’s message in right on! Donald Cooper is one of those rare individuals who has been there, done it…and tells the tale like no other.

Dave Nettleton, Pres. Sertapak.

DONALD'S BLOG

February 20, 2018

Are you aiming high enough in your business?
(Time to read this blog article about 2 minutes) Whatever business you’re in, mediocrity is no longer an option! Let’s face it; if we’re trying to stay in business by being medioc ..

What are you hiding from in your business?
(Time to read this article is about 60 seconds) Many of my coaching clients (business owners and managers) are hiding from something. In fact, I guess we’re all hiding from someth ..

The danger of consensus management:
(Time to read this blog article about 45 seconds) I recently worked with a CEO who believed strongly in ‘consensus management’. The problem is that no decisions were being made. ..

With whom will you have lunch in 2018?
(Time to read this blog article about 90 seconds) ‘Thank you’ for being a fan and follower in 2017! Wishing you, your team and your family a 2018 full of health, love, joy, advent ..

December 12, 2017

How will your business ‘give back’ in 2018?
(Time to read this blog article about 60 seconds) How will your business give back to your community, to humanity and to the local and global environment in 2017? It’s called ‘do ..

Cooper’s ‘famous’ cookie and chowder recipes:
(Time to read this Blog article is about 50 seconds) Whatever your faith or culture, December seems to be a month of special foods, gratitude and festive get-togethers. Wonderful ..

November 21, 2017

Make 2018 your best year ever:
(Time to read this article is about 90 seconds) It’s November and now’s the time to be doing the planning, making the decisions and taking the action that will make 2018 your best ..

November 21, 2017

Important business lessons from a 12” hot dog:
(Time to read this Blog article is about 50 seconds) The beautiful new 5 star cruise ship, The Viking Sun, does a number of things to differentiate itself for their specific target ..